Golf: The Golfing available in the neighbourhood is varied, challenging and plentiful. The prestigious Buchanan Castle Golf Club is only 2 miles away and WATERFRONT guests can enjoy a range of membership-style benefits here. Guests who want to play the World Championship Loch Lomond Golf course can take a speed boat straight to the greens from our own shore. This is especially attractive when the roads are clogged with traffic at tournament times. Golf Safaris. Come with some friends and let us drive you to and from a selection of courses including Gleneagles and Buchanan. Walking: RAMBLING AND WALKING. This is a walkers paradise. Set, as we are, on the Highland Fault Line, which separates the mountains of Scotland from the lush lowlands, there are extensive walks of every description to be had from our own doorstep. WATERMEADOWS. Adjoining our site to the south is the River Endrick nature reserve. The lush water meadows are extensive and are managed for the benefit of the flocks of geese and other birds that regularly visit the area. Know the right route and you can walk to Drymen along the river and get a bus back if you want. FORESTS AND WOODLAND. The Oak woodlands surrounding Loch Lomond were coppiced and felled in historical times to provide “Turkey Red” dye for the local natural dye industry. This is why so many of them survive to this day. You can walk to the other end of the Loch through such woodland or you can cross the road from our site into the mixed forestry that flanks Conic Hill. HILL WALKS, The trail to the top of Conic Hill (1004 ft) starts from our door. From the top you can cross the moorland and come back via the hamlets of Buchanan or go further into the hills towards Ben Lomond. Ben Lomond itself is 7 miles away and this Munro is one of Scotland’s classic hill walks. There are many other walks that we would be delighted to discuss with you. The West Highland Way long distance path passes our site too. Nature: Watch some of Britain’s rarest birds without even having to take a car from the site. Our location, astride the Highland fault line means that birdwatchers and naturalists can walk to a wide variety of habitats within minutes of your lodge. The River Endrick flows into Loch Lomond through the water-meadows that border us to the south. These are highly protected as a class one nature reserve and are the home to Ospreys, Deer and Otters to name but a few. The Islands of Loch Lomond nature reserve can be reached by boat and are the home to Capercaillies and even Wallabies! Ospreys can often be seen fishing from our beach. The Local woodlands and forests are the haunt of a family of rare White Deer. Cross over the fault line and Golden Eagles, Red Kites. Pine Martens and Wildcats have all been seen in the area. Local rangers are always to hand to offer advice and personal walking and nature guides are ready to help you find the most exciting birds and animals. Watersports: As the largest area of fresh water in the UK the possibilities for watersports are myriad and varied. The WATERFRONT’S own beach is sandy shallow water. Guests can launch their own boats here providing that they only have a shallow draft and that the vehicle towing is four wheel drive. For other craft the adjacent boatyard has a concrete slipway and jetties for mooring. There is a speed limit on certain parts of the loch to protect the wildlife. The main such area is adjacent to our site. So we regret that jet skis cannot be launched or driven from our site nevertheless Millarochy Bay, two and half miles up the road is a favourite place for these craft. The waters of Loch Lomond are patrolled by rangers so that there is a rescue craft available most times should sailors get into trouble. There is also a registration scheme in force so that powered craft need to get a license and sticker. The license is free and can be purchased locally. Kayaking tours of the Islands are very popular and dinghies and a catamaran can be hired from Balmaha. Water skiing with a trained instructor can also be booked and speed boat rides are available from a number of locations nearby. Traditional fishing skiffs with an outboard motor can also be hired from the adjacent boatyard. Wake Boarding and Wind Surfing are also available from our site. Equipment and tuition should be booked in advance. For details and charges call lodge reception on 01360 870144. Jetskis are not allowed to be launched from the site Fishing: Wild trout, salmon, enormous pike, perch and powan, a fish unique to Loch Lomond abound in the Loch. Our shore line is a favourite haunt of game and coarse fishermen and is now available exclusively to Waterfront guests. Friendly ghillies ( instructors) can be hired to show novices the delights of this sport or to accompany the more ambitious fisherman to the remote mountain lochs in the area. Loch Lomond "The Big Loch" is a world renowned fishing venue with a wide variety of fish waiting to be caught. Lodge guests can buy rod licences from the WATERFRONT and have the freedom of a huge area of varied fishing. This includes our own ½ mile beat of unique sandy, fish-rich water. Friendly instructors can be hired to show the novice “how to” or to help experienced fishermen brush up their skills Every year the king of the fish, the wild Atlantic Salmon migrate from the sea back to the river of their birth. Along with Sea Trout, these game fish make their way from northern seas into the Firth of Clyde. From here they travel up the River Leven and enter Loch Lomond at Balloch. The fish linger in the loch, providing increasingly good sport before leaving it again to other rivers including the nearby River Endrick to spawn. Loch Lomond is perfectly situated to help you enjoy a relaxing fishing break. Loch Lomond has an enviable reputation as a course fishing venue. In 1947, T. Morgan caught the Scottish record Pike which weighed an incredible 47lbs 11oz (21.63kg) from the Loch. Around the Balmaha area, smaller fish such as Perch, Roach, Ruffe and Dace can be caught. Pike anglers throughout Britain, rate the Loch Lomond Pike as the hardest fighting of all. The Loch is also one of the few homes in Scotland to the elusive Powan. It is a variety of the fresh-water Houting - a "whitefish" with an adipose fin. It can grow to around 18" (46cm) and a weight of 2lbs (907g). The Powan is a protected species and if caught should be quickly returned. Further info on Loch Lomond fishing Loch Lomond Waterfront has its own private and exclusive sandy beach from which fishing for coarse species is possible. For those wishing to enjoy a day in search of Salar, the salmon boat hire can be arranged at the adjacent yard. Discounted fishing permits can be purchased in the resort. Professional guides can be arranged to help locate the fish. Our own stocked Rainbow Trout lochan is under construction. Tuition in the art of fly-fishing can be arranged with our own fully qualified and accredited instructor. Whether it is the challenge of a days fishing for the silver Salmon and Sea Trout or catching a Rainbow Trout from he onsite lochan, you can be assured that every skill level will be catered for. For those looking to venture out further into The Trossachs area and beyond, fishing can be arranged on a variety of lochs and rivers. Local Ghillies and Guides can be arranged which will help you enjoy your day by loch and river to its fullest. There is no close season for coarse fishing as it is available all year round. However there is a close season for game fish to allow them to spawn and recover condition. The dates for the Loch Lomond system are: Salmon - 11th February to 31st October Sea Trout - 1st April to 31st October Brown Trout - 15th March to 6th October Rainbow Trout fishing all year round Please follow all local rules Sunday fishing is not permitted for Salmon or Sea Trout